US4380225A - Vehicle engine ignition system utilizing light guides for protection against interference - Google Patents
Vehicle engine ignition system utilizing light guides for protection against interference Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4380225A US4380225A US06/235,566 US23556681A US4380225A US 4380225 A US4380225 A US 4380225A US 23556681 A US23556681 A US 23556681A US 4380225 A US4380225 A US 4380225A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light
- control circuit
- photoconductor
- ignition system
- input
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
- B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
- B60R25/04—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
- B60R25/045—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
- F02P5/00—Advancing or retarding ignition; Control therefor
- F02P5/04—Advancing or retarding ignition; Control therefor automatically, as a function of the working conditions of the engine or vehicle or of the atmospheric conditions
- F02P5/145—Advancing or retarding ignition; Control therefor automatically, as a function of the working conditions of the engine or vehicle or of the atmospheric conditions using electrical means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
- F02P7/00—Arrangements of distributors, circuit-makers or -breakers, e.g. of distributor and circuit-breaker combinations or pick-up devices
- F02P7/06—Arrangements of distributors, circuit-makers or -breakers, e.g. of distributor and circuit-breaker combinations or pick-up devices of circuit-makers or -breakers, or pick-up devices adapted to sense particular points of the timing cycle
- F02P7/073—Optical pick-up devices
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
- Y02T10/40—Engine management systems
Definitions
- the present invention relates to protection of ignition systems of internal combustion engines against electrical and magnetic interference.
- Ignition systems are well known in which the ignition coil, the distributor, the electronic switching circuit as well as the control circuit for timing the spark are electrically connected to each other and mounted in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle.
- the control circuit in particular is subjected to large temperature variations and shock and vibration, as well as electric and electromagnetic noise.
- such noise can have very deleterious effects. It is impossible to adequately shield the computing circuits against the electrical and electromagnetic interference which results from the sparks at the spark plugs.
- the object of the present invention is accomplished by mounting the sensitive parts of the ignition system remote from the engine compartment and to connect the remotely located parts to the parts in the engine compartment by light guide "pipe" photoconductors.
- Such photoconductors can be included in the cable harness of the vehicle.
- a theft prevention circuit is provided which receives a coded light pulse sequence from outside the vehicle through light guides. Operation of the ignition system is impeded until the correct light pulse sequence is received.
- a microprocessor which stores the characteristic curve of ignition timing v. engine speed.
- the circuit according to the present invention operates satisfactorily even with such a relatively sensitive component.
- the single FIGURE is a circuit diagram, partially in block form, illustrating the present invention.
- the electronic ignition system for a single cylinder internal combustion engine is shown in the FIGURE. It includes a synchronization unit 10, a control unit 11, a power output stage 12 and a spark plug 12. Power output stage 12 is connected to the operating voltage of the vehicle at a terminal 14. Control unit 11 is connected to a constant DC voltage at a terminal 15 if no voltage stabilization is included in control unit 11. Power output stage 12 includes an ignition coil 16 whose secondary winding 16a is connected through an ignition cable 17 to spark plug 13. Primary winding 16b is connected to terminal 14 and, on the other hand, is connected through the emitter-collector circuit of ignition transistor 18 to reference or ground potential. Two pnp transistors 19 and 20 are connected to the input side of ignition transistor 18 as amplifier stages.
- Transistor 19 is a phototransistor whose emitter is connected to ground potential and whose collector is connected to the base of transistor 20 and, through a resistor 21, to terminal 14.
- the emitter of transistor 20 is connected to ground potential, while its collector is connected to the base of ignition transistor 18 and, via resistor 22, to terminal 14.
- Transistors 18, 19 and 20 together constitute a semiconductor switch having a control input 23. The latter is connected through a guiding photoconductor 24 with the output 25 of control unit 11. Control signals in the form of light pulse pass from control unit 11 to the control input 23 of the semiconductor switch via photoconductor 24.
- the semiconductor switch as well as the ignition coil 16 are embedded in a casting resin in a grounded housing.
- Control unit 11 is installed in a location in the vehicle which is shielded against electromagnetic fields. For example, it may be installed behind a dashboard. Synchronization unit 10 cooperates with a rotating member 26 of the internal combustion engine. Output 27 of synchronization unit 10 is connected to input 29 of control unit 11 by a further photoconductor 28. For each rotation of the internal combustion engine, a synchronization signal in the form of a light pulse passes from synchronization unit 10 to control unit 11 through guiding photoconductor 28. The light pulse is generated by an electromagnetic sensor 30 which is electrically connected to a light emitting diode 31 positioned at output 27 of synchronization unit 10. A phototransistor 32 is positioned at input 29 of control unit 11.
- the phototransistor is positioned at the end of guiding photoconductor 28. Its emitter is connected to ground potential and its collector is connected through a resistor 33 to the stabilized voltage available at terminal 15.
- the collector of phototransistor 32 is also connected to the input of a microprocessor 34.
- Microprocessor 34 has a storage in which is stored at least one characteristic curve of ignition timing vs. speed. If the microprocessor is addressed by a speed dependent signal, the location addressed by this signal will contain a signal indicative of the desired ignition timing or advance.
- the output of microprocessor 34 is connected to the base of a pnp transistor 35.
- the emitter of transistor 35 is connected to ground potential while its collector is connected to a light emitting diode 36 whose anode is connected to terminal 15.
- Control unit 11 has a further input 37 which is connected to a phototransistor 38.
- the emitter of phototransistor 38 is connected to ground potential while its collector is connected through a resistor 39 to terminal 15.
- the collector is also connected to a further input of microprocessor 34.
- Input 37 of control unit 11 is connected to a further photoconductor 40 whose other end is connected to a converging lens 41.
- Lens 41 is mounted in the vehicle so that it can be seen from the outside and thus can receive light signals which are emitted by an emitter 42. This allows the ignition system to be protected against theft.
- microprocessor 34 is coded to receive a predetermined sequence of pulses at the second input. This pulse sequence is coordinated with a light emitter 42 which is carried by the person authorized to use the vehicle.
- the coded sequence of light pulses passes over photoconductor 40 to phototransistor 38 and is there transduced into a corresponding coded sequence of electrical pulses. These pulses are applied to a second input of microprocessor 34 and are compared to a coded sequence stored in the latter. If there is agreement between the stored and the received sequence, the ignition system is activated. Since the synchronization unit 10, the control unit 11, the power output stage 12 and lens 24 are all mounted in different locations within the vehicle, the guiding photoconductors 24, 28 and 40 which connect these units are all included in the wiring harness of the vehicle.
- Transistor 35 is switched to the conductive state at a programmed time instant which depends upon the engine speed. This causes light emitting diode 36 to emit a light signal. The light signal passes over guiding photoconductor 24 to photo transistor 19 in power output stage 12. Phototransistor 19 becomes conductive. This causes transistor 20 to be blocked and ignition transistor 18 to become conductive via resistor 22. A current now flows in the primary circuit, i.e. through primary winding 16b and the emitter-collector circuit of ignition transistor 18. The current causes an electromagnetic field to be built up in ignition coil 16. The ignition timing is determined by microprocessor 34 on the basis of the above-mentioned ignition timing vs. engine speed curve which is stored in the microprocessor. At the suitable time instant, transistor 35 is again switched to the blocked stage.
- the light signal in photoconductor 24 is interrupted and phototransistor 19 is again blocked. This causes transistor 20 to become conductive and ignition transistor 18 to be blocked.
- the primary current is instantly interrupted, causing a high voltage pulse to be induced in seconary winding 16a of ignition pulse 16.
- the high voltage pulse causes a spark to be generated in spark plug 13.
- the process repeats with each full rotation of rotating member 26 of the internal combustion engine.
- the present invention is not to be restricted to the illustrated embodiment.
- the same ignition system can be used for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines.
- a distributor is arranged between ignition coil 16 and spark plug 13.
- Rotating member 26 is also in the distributor in the multi-cylinder case and has a plurality of cams 26a.
- sensor 30 of the synchronization unit may be dispensed with and light emitting diode 31 can be connected through a suitable matching circuit directly to the primary voltage generated by the magneto generator.
- the magneto generator and the power output stage can be integrated into one unit. It is also possible to use a Hall generator as sensor 30.
- the Hall generator has then to be connected to a current source as does light emitting diode 31.
- the synchronization unit consists of a light barrier driven by the internal combustion engine. The light barrier passes through a gap in guiding photoconductor 28. A light emitting diode then has to be provided which steadily emits light to the guiding photoconductor which is positioned in front of the light barrier in the direction of light propogation.
Abstract
Description
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE3008066 | 1980-03-03 | ||
DE19803008066 DE3008066A1 (en) | 1980-03-03 | 1980-03-03 | CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT FOR IGNITION OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US4380225A true US4380225A (en) | 1983-04-19 |
Family
ID=6096109
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/235,566 Expired - Fee Related US4380225A (en) | 1980-03-03 | 1981-02-18 | Vehicle engine ignition system utilizing light guides for protection against interference |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4380225A (en) |
JP (2) | JPS56135749A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3008066A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2477233B1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4654890A (en) * | 1984-09-05 | 1987-03-31 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Multiplex communication system |
WO1994016923A1 (en) * | 1993-01-20 | 1994-08-04 | Kaiser Hans Christian | Safety system |
GB2286702A (en) * | 1994-02-18 | 1995-08-23 | Andrew Gardner | Fibre optic switching system |
GB2296804A (en) * | 1994-09-17 | 1996-07-10 | Nigel Janson | Electronic security system |
EP0904996A1 (en) * | 1997-09-30 | 1999-03-31 | MAGNETI MARELLI S.p.A. | An ignition system with an immobilization function for a motor vehicle with a magnetoelectric generator |
EP1340909A2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2003-09-03 | Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft | Ignition power stage |
US20080098973A1 (en) * | 2005-03-30 | 2008-05-01 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Photoconductive Ignition System |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4446841A (en) * | 1982-01-20 | 1984-05-08 | The Bendix Corporation | Photoelectric isolation circuit for an internal combustion engine ignition system |
DE3800932A1 (en) * | 1988-01-15 | 1989-07-27 | Telefunken Electronic Gmbh | CLOSING TIME CONTROL FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES WITH EXCHANGED IGNITION STAGE |
DE3924985A1 (en) * | 1989-07-28 | 1991-02-07 | Volkswagen Ag | FULLY ELECTRONIC IGNITION DEVICE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE |
FR2656268B1 (en) * | 1989-12-27 | 1992-03-13 | Dinkespiler Bernard | ANTITHEFT PROTECTION METHOD AND DEVICES FOR ELECTRONICALLY IGNITED VEHICLES BY ENCRYPTION. |
JPH0454278A (en) * | 1990-06-22 | 1992-02-21 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Ignition device for internal combustion engine |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE139441C (en) * | ||||
GB594437A (en) * | 1944-05-06 | 1947-11-11 | Bendix Aviat Corp | Ignition system for internal combustion engines |
US4007724A (en) * | 1975-11-21 | 1977-02-15 | Outboard Marine Corporation | C. D. ignition system with noise rejection means |
US4092968A (en) * | 1977-02-09 | 1978-06-06 | Cooper Industries, Inc. | Engine ignition system |
US4106461A (en) * | 1976-02-25 | 1978-08-15 | Sebastian Louis Giannini | Reflective ignition timing process |
US4106462A (en) * | 1976-03-18 | 1978-08-15 | General Electric Company | Ignition system control circuit |
US4116174A (en) * | 1976-06-23 | 1978-09-26 | Schlichting Kenneth J | Spark timing computer |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1439991C3 (en) * | 1963-08-10 | 1973-10-18 | Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart | Battery ignition system |
FR95668E (en) * | 1965-02-08 | 1971-04-16 | Becq Andre | Remote control of the ignition of an internal combustion engine. |
GB1236561A (en) * | 1967-04-05 | 1971-06-23 | Ass Eng Ltd | Ignition systems |
GB1257794A (en) * | 1968-06-28 | 1971-12-22 | ||
FR2073635A5 (en) * | 1969-12-15 | 1971-10-01 | Lucas Industries Ltd | |
FR2127782A5 (en) * | 1972-02-18 | 1972-10-13 | Gaucherand Ferdinand | |
CH552489A (en) * | 1973-01-24 | 1974-08-15 | South East Europ Purchasing & | ELECTRONIC IGNITION DEVICE ON A MOTOR VEHICLE FOR ITS COMBUSTION ENGINE. |
JPS515901A (en) * | 1974-07-03 | 1976-01-19 | Nippon Denso Co | HIKARIHAISENSOCHI |
DE2641239A1 (en) * | 1976-09-14 | 1978-03-16 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | CONTROL UNIT FOR THE TRIGGERING OF OPERATING PROCEDURES, IN PARTICULAR THE IGNITION OF COMBUSTION MACHINES |
JPS53108702A (en) * | 1977-03-04 | 1978-09-21 | Nippon Denso Co Ltd | Photo wiring equiopment |
JPS555481A (en) * | 1978-06-28 | 1980-01-16 | Nippon Denso Co Ltd | Ignition controller for internal combustion engine |
-
1980
- 1980-03-03 DE DE19803008066 patent/DE3008066A1/en active Granted
- 1980-12-30 FR FR8027822A patent/FR2477233B1/en not_active Expired
-
1981
- 1981-02-18 US US06/235,566 patent/US4380225A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1981-03-02 JP JP2850181A patent/JPS56135749A/en active Pending
-
1989
- 1989-08-11 JP JP1989093958U patent/JPH0421013Y2/ja not_active Expired
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE139441C (en) * | ||||
GB594437A (en) * | 1944-05-06 | 1947-11-11 | Bendix Aviat Corp | Ignition system for internal combustion engines |
US4007724A (en) * | 1975-11-21 | 1977-02-15 | Outboard Marine Corporation | C. D. ignition system with noise rejection means |
US4106461A (en) * | 1976-02-25 | 1978-08-15 | Sebastian Louis Giannini | Reflective ignition timing process |
US4106462A (en) * | 1976-03-18 | 1978-08-15 | General Electric Company | Ignition system control circuit |
US4116174A (en) * | 1976-06-23 | 1978-09-26 | Schlichting Kenneth J | Spark timing computer |
US4092968A (en) * | 1977-02-09 | 1978-06-06 | Cooper Industries, Inc. | Engine ignition system |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4654890A (en) * | 1984-09-05 | 1987-03-31 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Multiplex communication system |
WO1994016923A1 (en) * | 1993-01-20 | 1994-08-04 | Kaiser Hans Christian | Safety system |
US5696482A (en) * | 1993-01-20 | 1997-12-09 | Hans Christian Kaiser | Safety system for protecting movable objects |
GB2286702A (en) * | 1994-02-18 | 1995-08-23 | Andrew Gardner | Fibre optic switching system |
GB2296804A (en) * | 1994-09-17 | 1996-07-10 | Nigel Janson | Electronic security system |
EP0904996A1 (en) * | 1997-09-30 | 1999-03-31 | MAGNETI MARELLI S.p.A. | An ignition system with an immobilization function for a motor vehicle with a magnetoelectric generator |
EP1340909A2 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2003-09-03 | Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft | Ignition power stage |
EP1340909A3 (en) * | 2002-02-28 | 2005-09-14 | Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft | Ignition power stage |
US20080098973A1 (en) * | 2005-03-30 | 2008-05-01 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Photoconductive Ignition System |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH0276172U (en) | 1990-06-11 |
FR2477233B1 (en) | 1987-05-22 |
JPH0421013Y2 (en) | 1992-05-13 |
DE3008066A1 (en) | 1981-09-17 |
JPS56135749A (en) | 1981-10-23 |
FR2477233A1 (en) | 1981-09-04 |
DE3008066C2 (en) | 1990-10-18 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4380225A (en) | Vehicle engine ignition system utilizing light guides for protection against interference | |
US4546266A (en) | Magnetically actuated interlock | |
US4515118A (en) | Magneto ignition system, particularly for one-cylinder internal combustion engines | |
US3906920A (en) | Ignition apparatus and system | |
US5907243A (en) | Measuring circuit for sensing ionisation within a cylinder of a combustion engine | |
JPS5865975A (en) | Igniter for internal combustion engine | |
WO1992011455A1 (en) | Spark duration control for a capacitor discharge ignition system | |
US3328614A (en) | Breakerless ignition control unit | |
US6845763B2 (en) | Vehicle ignition system using ignition module with reduced heat generation | |
US3986166A (en) | Anti-tamper automobile alarm system utilizing plural reed type switches | |
US4176643A (en) | Pulse generating and distributing circuits for internal combustion engines or the like | |
EP0771703B1 (en) | Combined electronic ignition and anti-theft alarm system | |
US5577485A (en) | Ignition system | |
US3762383A (en) | Internal combustion engine speed limit circuit | |
US4245601A (en) | Internal combustion engine speed ignition spark advance system | |
EP0323412A2 (en) | An ignition system for an internal combustion engine for motor vehicles, particularly of the static-distribution type | |
KR100287432B1 (en) | Crank angle signal processing device | |
US4433280A (en) | Internal combustion engine ignition system | |
US4167170A (en) | Turn-off protected ignition system for internal combustion engines | |
US4528972A (en) | Emergency ignition device for thermal engines with controlled ignition | |
SE428142B (en) | Combustion engine ignition system with a magnetic generator | |
US4030469A (en) | Electronic ignition circuit | |
US6311664B1 (en) | Ignition coil output pulse controlled power switch for internal combustion engine | |
US5131377A (en) | Ignition device for an internal combustion engine provided with an optoisolator | |
US3144012A (en) | Internal combustion engine ignition system and tachometer |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, POSTFACH 50, 7000 STUTTGART 1, Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:WESEMEYER JURGEN;HAUBNER GEORG;MEIER WERNER;REEL/FRAME:003867/0895 Effective date: 19810203 |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, PL 96-517 (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M170); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: SURCHARGE FOR LATE PAYMENT, PL 96-517 (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M176); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, PL 96-517 (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M171); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 19950419 |
|
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |